My husband and I stayed at Sandals Negril January 2-16. This was our second time visiting Jamaica and our second time at a Sandals resort. Our stay at Sandals Negril exceeded all expectation, we were a bit concerned after reading some of the negative reviews before we left for our trip. But let me put all those negative reviews to rest.

Staff- There was never a moment when we felt that a question was to big or to small, we were always greeted with a smile and asked if there was anything we needed. The staff at the resort is absolutely wonderful, always remembering your name and favorite drink. If you show respect to the staff or even a simple smile it is all the gratitude they need. I cannot say enough about the amazing staff at this hotel who helped our 2 week stay feel like home. I'd like to say a special thanks to Edison and Jeffery at the Bayside restaurant, Donavin at the piano bar, and Anthony at Dino's to name a few. There were so many things that were done for us that were above and beyond I could go on forever.

Butler service and butlers- It was our honeymoon so we decided to stay in a room category with a butler service, this is one of the main reason I would come back to this resort. Our butlers Denato and Sean were absolutely incredible all we had to do was tell them a bit of what we wanted to do that day whether it was dinner reservations or what time we wanted lunch they took care of it for us and we were able to just relax and enjoy. Surprising us with our favorite drinks and food throughout the day. Also having a little cozy beach umbrella with 2 chairs and a cooler of refreshments waiting for us each morning in the same spot was fantastic. This was truly a paradise of its own. If we wanted to stay in one night and enjoy a nice dinner in our room it was set up for us before we even asked. Thank you again Denato and Sean, we cant wait to see you again on our next visit!

Rooms- we stayed in the Millionaire One Bedroom Suite with whirlpool and private out door plunge pool and patio. This room was heaven, having all the privacy you wanted, total luxury, from the bed and pillows to the jetted tub and the private outdoor pool and loungers, also the outdoor shower was great too! The rooms where always kept very clean and where very elegantly decorated with a modern but Caribbean feel.

food/restaurants- My husband and I enjoy good food and in preparation for a wedding dress and being on a strict diet I was very excited to finally get to indulge for 2 weeks, and indulge we did. The food at this resort is great! From the thin crust pizza to the pasta at Dino's we were never left disappointed or hungry. We had a chance to eat at all of the restaurants at this hotel and we were pleased and happy with them all. There is truly something for everybody. Our favorite was the pasta at Dino's and the food at the Sundowner. The food at the beach grill was great during the day, hamburgers fries, chicken ect. If we were feeling like something a bit lighter the lunch buffet at Bayside always had a great selection of salads and fresh fruit and sandwiches and wraps. There is no need for anybody to complain about the food at this resort, you are on vacation and there is a HUGE variety. The desserts and chocolate covered fruit were also incredible!

Beach- The beach at sandals is breathtaking! The water is crystal clear and the sand soft and powdery, the staff does a remarkable job keeping it raked and always looking pristine! We were able to see fish and starfish and even the occasional crab. I am not usually a beach person on vacations I always find myself sitting by the pool and going to the beach only a few times, but this vacation I only went into the pool once and did not even sit near the pool the whole 2 weeks. Why would you when the beach was so magnificent! Sure the days when it was a bit wavy the water was not 100% clear but that is not the resorts fault. My husband and I enjoyed walking up and down the beach every day with a drink in our hands. We even made it as far one day as MargaritaVille which is a great stroll and good food if you want something to do. We watched every sunset from our beach chairs each night with a glass of red wine, cheese and crackers ( if that's not heaven I don't now what is) thanks to our butlers who just brought it without us even asking! The beach at sandals is public and there are vendors who walk by trying to sell you anything from bracelets to lobster to "smoke". The hotel security guards are also good at moving them along if they are too persistent. But after a few times saying "no thank you" and a smile they left you alone and then just would stop by to chat and see how you were doing. we actually made friends with a few of them. The lobster is worth getting for only 20$ the " lobster man" will grill it up fresh for you and deliver it to you at your beach chair!

water sports- we did not do to many of these as we were just very happy to lounge around and relax, but we did go snorkeling once which was fantastic, I have been snorkeling before but have never seen that many different fish ( I am not an expert or anything but I found a great trip for being included in the price of your vacation ). We did rent a beach cabana one day, it was very relaxing and peaceful. Definitely worth the money if you are looking for some romantic relaxation!

pool- The pool seemed nice, very clean and the loungers by the pool looked very nice and comfortable. The pool also had a nice swim up bar. We did not use the pool, only once so I cannot comment to much other than it looked very nice and the people around it always looked relaxed, there were activities and volleyball some afternoons if you were in need of something to do. By the pool bar there was a guy named Andrew who was painting pictures there the 2 weeks we stayed and we ended up purchasing a painting of a beautiful beach scene to remember our Honeymoon. If he is there when you are staying it is worth checking out his paintings they are all done right there in front of you. He is not pushy at all , I had to go up to him and ask him about his paintings.

Hotel- The hotel is in great condition it is very elegant and kept in immaculate condition, it is an older Sandals property but it is kept in very good shape. The hotel is very intimate and romantic not too big, but just big enough that there was lots to do and lots of favorite spots to find and relax or socialize with other guests. I know that they are doing some upgrades to some of the lower room categories and from what we seen the room looked very nice. They are always doing little renovations to keep the hotel in good condition and from what I can tell they are doing a great job!

We cannot wait to return to Sandals Negril! Our trip was phenomenal and without a doubt this resort is more than an excellent place to stay for your honeymoon or any occasion for that matter. Remember at this resort there is many different room categories and butler and concierge service rooms and when booking a room with a butler you are able to indulge in all the luxury's this resort has to offer, it is defiantly worth the extra money! We can not rave enough about this resort and its amazing service. Thank you everybody at Sandals Negril for making our Honeymoon a dream!
If anybody has any other questions just send me a message!

This review is for Sandals Negril. We stayed Jan 29th-Feb 6th 2012.

Before I get into the review, some of the places I’ve stayed at are Secrets Silversands in Playa, Mexico, and a couple of resorts in Cuba, one of which is Sunbeach.

I would rate the two above:

Overall
Secrets Silversands – 8.5/10
Sunbeach – 7/10

The above is to relate back to the overall rating I would give Sandals Negril. Also, the above ratings are respective only of accommodation/resort, and nothing to do with enjoyment/fun or particulars about the level of service as this is variable. Lastly, the ratings are a measure of accommodation/resort as a ratio of the amount of money I paid.

My wife and I are both 26. We paid a little above $5k for Honeymoon Beachfront Concierge (2nd floor), right beside the Beachside grill. We could not book butler suites as it was ‘sold out’.

Staff/Service:

Most of the staff are very friendly and always accommodating. Most of the staff sported a smile, and a greeting. Some you could tell were genuine. Staff at the concierge desk were very helpful. The only staff that were a little less than friendly were some of the bartenders. I did also notice that tipping is not required, but as soon as I would pass a couple of bucks, their attitudes would visibly change. So if you notice lack of service from particular staff, slip them a couple of bucks, and presto! I tipped almost all staff that I saw on a regular basis (cooks, waiters, bartenders), and none refused. Some of the staff I encountered regularly that I would say were genuinely friendly were Jerome (photography), T-Bone (Photography), Chinoy (cook), Andrene (bartender), Ian (room service), Jeffrey, Kemeshia and some of the house keeping staff. I would say this was one of the reasons I really liked my trip.

Grounds:

Beach-
The beach was relatively small (there was not too much beach from the resort to the water). This was never an issue (but some of you reading this may be huge beach ppl). You could walk for miles towards Beaches, or a hundred yards towards Hedonism, and it was never a problem... The BIGGEST problem I had, and I spoke to other guests about this, was the beach chairs. If I had known, for the price I’m paying, that I’d have this sort of an issue, I would not go here...definitely a deal-breaker. The problem is that all of the beach chairs that have any sort of shade under straw (man-made) trees, or umbrellas (in front of Lagoon suites) would be reserved early in the morning. In fact, I spoke to a couple who reserved their chair early in the morning, only to find that their stuff was taken, and a butler had replaced it with towels for another couple...this is ridiculous!! FMO – I think they should remove this from the butler’s job description. The only chairs you could find were ones that didn’t have any shade....or else you’d have to wait until at least 1:30-2:00 to get a shaded chair. Also, some of the patrons the chairs were reserved for wouldn’t even show up!! Never have I encountered this sort of problem before anywhere else, so not sure what the deal is with this.

Vendors-
Beach vendors would walk by every now and then, but never bothered you..just say no, and they’d go on their merry way. Security was always’ around to watch them. Also, security was very tight, ensuring they know who is coming and going from hotel grounds along the beach, so kudo’s to them for keeping it together.

Water was cool, but that’s typical for this time of year.

Pools-
Pools/Jacuzzi’s were generally open at all times of day...they’d shut off the jacuzzi at night if no one was using it, but it can easily be turned on. Wife and I got into the Jacuzzi one night at about 3 am when the Piano bar was closing, and the Jacuzzi was off. We asked the bartender if we could go in, and he easily accommodated us by turning it on. We stayed in the Jacuzzi with no disturbances. Security staff saw us in there, and made sure they didn’t come around so as to not ruin our experience, and it was appreciated.

The grounds were immaculately clean, and safe to walk around at any time of day/night.

Entertainment

I found the entertainment staff were very engaging, and fun. They had some pretty neat stuff up on stage most of the time we were there. They even did activities by the pool, and sports. Note – some of the activities might require you to do stuff above and beyond your comfort level (didn’t experience this personally, but saw people who might fit this category), such as taking off your clothes and dancing, lol! But you are on vacation, so most things fly.

There were free water sports available, and although I did not partake (never water skied before), I saw people taking full advantage of it, so yes, that is something that is available (and not just advertised).

We went on the catamaran one day to Ricks’ Cafe and Margaritaville, and it was quite fun...the ship turns into sort of a club, where you can dance, there is a DJ, and they give you alcohol...I saw most people having fun. This is an excursion you should check out.

Go to The Jungle! I saw all ages there, and it was a really fun experience (safe too!)

One thing I’d like to mention that my wife really enjoyed was the spontaneous singing and dancing the staff would get into. It was quite fun/funny to see them do this, and it definitely lightened the mood around the resort.

Food

Understand that I love spicy food. I felt nothing Jamaican about the food at this resort...it was as if it was being made by someone that isn’t Jamaican! I know lots of Jamaican people in Toronto, and have eaten fantaaastic food from Jamaican restaurants, but the food here was definitely lacking. They NEVER had beef patties (ask the cook at Beach Grill and $5 say’s he’ll say ‘Tomorrow’), and the Jerk Chicken was pretty much chicken drenched in curry. I only liked Dino’s (for the custom made pasta option – also, I don’t even eat pasta back home, so desperation kicked in), and this particular appetizer I forgot the name of at Sundowner (looks like a Samosa). I would say overall, that the food didn’t necessarily taste bad...it just didn’t taste like anything really.

Demographics

Majority of the patrons at this resort I would guess were over 40 for sure and lots were return. Although we had a great time with other patrons, I think next time we will stay at a place that caters for a slightly younger crowd. We actually didn’t meet anyone at the resort that was close to our age.

Also, there were LOOOTSS of weddings (I would say average about 3 per day!)...so expect large groups of people there. I found no problem with these weddings, but just as an FYI.

Accommodations

Okay, so here is where this review will get really sour. The rooms were very dated. The concierge level rooms were of the same calibre as a Comfort Inn (if not worse). I didn’t see the Loft suites, but spoke to a couple that were in the loft, and they expressed similarities between the loft and honeymoon beachfront. I personally went into the Lagoon suite, and these rooms were very nice.

The room we were in had an old rusty fan, and VEERRRYYYY dirty carpets ( I have pictures of the carpet and as you will see, you can actually SEE the nastiness on the carpet)!! The bathroom had no exhaust, so whenever my wife took a shower (she goes before me), you wouldn’t be able to see yourself in the mirror for the next hour, or more. Even with the AC on (which was loud as heck), the windows would remain foggy.

Furniture was very basic, and old. No free WIFI ($14.99/day, or about $90/week, or something)...the only part of the room that I even REMOTELY enjoyed was the size of the bed (king)...but half the time, the sheets/pillows/blanket was damp, as if they took it out of the dryer early...

The TV had no option of buying movies, or anything, which I think is a very basic requirement for all hotels, even if you don’t stay in the hotel long (just to give patrons the option of watching a movie late at night, which my wife sometimes like to do).

In conclusion, I would say the specific room category I was in (which is the best room level below Butler Suite), is not worth more than $1000 for both people for 7 days...the rooms were my biggest disappointment (and I communicated this with management which we’ll get into later), and my biggest let-down. The only room category worth more than $5k (what I paid) is the Lagoon suite, but they were selling that for more than double. Our suitcases wouldn’t even fit! We had no room to walk! The only walking space was the carpet, and it was so dirty, its unimaginable. I’ve paid HALF this price and I got Secrets Silversands which had huge rooms, right in front of the water, exceptional service, and everything Sandals SHOULD HAVE been. I’m not a diva by the way..my point is not that this is not a room people should stay in...my point is that the value of $5k is much more than this room. We all work very hard for our money, and to say that I stayed at a run-down Comfort Inn is pretty much an accurate way I would describe this room.

Some of the Experiences (positives and negatives)

1. I called Concierge and I expressed my concerns about the room. The concerns were: A) view was blocked completely by palm trees, so is there another room? B)washroom has no exhaust. C)carpets were dirty. D)we were made to think these rooms were bigger and cleaner than what I see before me. So on the first day, they said all of the other rooms were occupied (but they showed me another concierge room a couple of rooms down that had all of the above issues). They said they would inform me if anything else became available. They called me a couple of days after and said they had something to show me (Lagoon suite), but it would be $1119/NIGHT and would give me a 50% discount...I could have gotten it way cheaper through my agent. After I refused, they called a couple of days after and said they would give me another room ( a bit bigger) complimentary..but when I called them back, they had sold it off...I then gave up...[Negative experience]

Note – I was NOT looking for a free upgrade...in fact, I told concierge I would pay for the upgrade...if they didn’t have any rooms, they could have compensated me some other way (in form of credit in gift shop/spa, etc), but nothing of the sort came my way...basically, we were helpless and stuck in this dreary situation for the next week, so we put our minds to other things to keep occupied.

2. I got sick, and felt very weak a couple of days after arrival. We had a dune buggy excursion planned the day after, but obviously needed to cancel. We went to the tour section of the resort, and said that they could only reimburse us 50%, and that we’d still have to pay for the rest...I told them that I can’t predict getting sick 24 hours before leaving on excursion, and that I’ll speak to concierge. I spoke to Andre, and he gave us the full amount back, which I really appreciated. Thanks Andre [Positive experience]

There were other small items that I was going to write about, but realized that my review is too long...

Overall, in terms of Sandals Negril, the resort itself, minus the rooms is very clean, and safe. The accommodations are dreadful. In fact, I am shocked that this hotel is #16 out of 99 on tripadvisor.

The overall rating of this resort is a mind-blowing 6/10, and the weight of the bad reviews is due to the rooms and beach chair situation. Wayyyyyyyy overpriced resort. I will never come back to this particular resort, and I will encourage my friends/family to never go here. The only way I would recommend this resort to anyone is if they are willing to go all out and book Lagoon suite and above with butlers. But remember, I’ve experienced the ‘Butler suite’ style with half the price that I paid, so that contributes to not coming back here.

Luckily the Jamaican people, and the land we were exposed to was gorgeous. I would have been begging to come back home if I had to stay another minute in that room.

I’m seeing a lot of positive reviews as of late...although I agree with most of what people are saying, please understand that my review considers my specific tastes/experiences/past. Also note that many of these people were here on their honeymoon with a big group, so many of the negatives are often overlooked. This review will be more helpful for couples, younger people, or first time visitors.

I hope you find this helpful.

I would not qualify this place as all inclusive. Sandals did an excellent job of getting us to the resort from Montego Bay. The scenic drive was about 1.5 hours and a nice way to see some of the country outside the resort. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the concierge and briefed on the resort's restuaruants, activities, etc. This was very informative, but that is pretty much when the concierge service stopped. Understanding that things generally move slower in Jamaica, we had prioper expectations on time, but there were some things the staff totally missed on. We were there for our honeymoon and offered a honeymooner's breakfatst free of charge. This breakfast didn't arrive as scheduled and basically ruined the water sports day we had planned (can't go for an open ocean swim right after you eat). Most of the restaurants are open just a few hours per day, and several bars were closed or cordoned off due to construction at various times during our 6 day stay (very loud and intrusive construction).
The beach was overcrowded every day. We didn't expect to have to fight for seats on the beach every morning at a private resort, but finding a seat was impossible unless you got up at 6 AM and claimed "squatter rights" by placing a towel or some other possession on the beach chairs. Naturally, you can hire "butler service" and they will reserve your seat for a fee. Eventually, we tired of this charade and purchased a cabana (cabana was moderately priced and very nice, but we basically had to pay to sit in decent beach seats).
Everyone working there expected gratuities, hardly in line with the all-inclusive mantra. Gratuties were added to the massage we signed up for (also not free of charge, but we knew this going in) and cabana personnel expected tips, even though there was a $125 charge for the cabana use.
The pools are small, and the main pool is generally useless unless you like early morning water aerobics.
If planing to go to Sandals Negril, do not pre-purchase anything. We were solicited for a dinner/massage couple combo and told we'd receive a huge discount if we pre-booked. We were shocked to learn that it was far cheaper and included more services if you signed up last minute. When we pointed this out to the staff, the essentially said we fell for their "corporate" scam. Would not recommend this place if you are expecting good service and all-inclusive.
Staff photogrophers hound you constantly, whether at dinner, the beach, or at the bars. We posed for pictures often, but tired of this soon as well due to the fact that the photogrophers generally kept you on your feet for at least 20 minutes, interupting dinner or relaxation on the beach. You can ask them to leave you alone, but another photog will be along in 5 minutes and the whole process starts over. Upon check-out, they do offer to sell you an album or CDs of the photos taken at the resort.

This was my first time staying at a sandals resort, and it will definitely not be my last. I went down to get married and enjoy my honeymoon. I can't even describe the incredible time I had. I stayed in a butler suite and was assigned two exceptional butlers, Kenrick and Jerry. Both butlers went above and beyond my expectations; they made every reservation for us (some without even being asked), seated us at the restaurants so we never waited in line, and even took it upon themselves to bring drinks and snacks to me and my family while we were on the beach. All the food was delicious and it was really nice having many different types of restaurants. Every worker at sandals was so friendly and helpful, whether they worked on the grounds, in the restaurant, or with the water sports, they were always helping to make our stay fantastic. Jeffery, our cook at the Japanese style restaurant was a blast; he was singing and joking with the whole table. At my wedding reception, we had a private bar set up in the gardens and Tray, the bartender, not only made any drink we could ask for but made it fun. One night while my wife was getting ready for dinner, I saw one of the staff, Chavon, he was not my butler but i asked if he could light the candles that were in my room. He said it was no problem and when my wife and I came back into our room that night, not only were the candles lit but there were rose petals leading to the bed and champagne on ice. I could honestly write a book with all the great things Sandals has to offer. In short, the food, drinks, entertainment (especially the booze cruise), staff, beach, pools, rooms, and all the excursions were amazing. We are counting down the days until we can go back.